Acoustic-communication
Guides
Acheta domesticus
House Cricket, European House Cricket
Acheta domesticus, the house cricket, is a widely distributed cricket species likely native to Southwestern Asia but now found globally through human commerce. The species has been kept in captivity since at least the 1700s and is considered highly domesticated. It serves as the primary cricket species in the global pet food industry, raised as feed for reptiles, amphibians, birds, and arthropods. The species has been severely impacted by Acheta domesticus Densovirus (AdDNV), a highly virulent and environmentally resistant pathogen that has caused widespread mortality in commercial breeding facilities and driven industry shifts toward alternative cricket species.
Achroia grisella
Lesser Wax Moth
Achroia grisella, the lesser wax moth, is a pyralid moth and pest of honey bee colonies worldwide. It is smaller and less destructive than the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella), primarily infesting weak or abandoned honey bee colonies where larvae feed on beeswax, pollen, honey, and brood cappings. The species has a worldwide distribution in temperate and tropical regions where honey bees are kept, and its spread has been facilitated by human-mediated transport of beekeeping equipment. Adults are small grayish moths with distinctive yellow heads. The species is notable for its unusually simple directional ear, which enables acoustic localization for both predator avoidance and mate finding.
Ageroniini
Ageroniini is a tribe of butterflies within the subfamily Biblidinae (Nymphalidae), commonly known as the tropical brushfoots. The tribe includes genera such as Ageronia and Hamadryas, species of which are known for their rapid, erratic flight patterns and often cryptic underside wing patterns that resemble dead leaves. Members of this tribe are primarily Neotropical in distribution.
Amblycorypha
Round-headed Katydids, False Katydids, Bush-crickets
Amblycorypha is a genus of North American round-headed katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, containing approximately 14 described species. These insects are renowned for their exceptional leaf-mimicry, with wing venation closely matching the vein patterns of leaves. They are known for their acoustic communication, with males producing songs via stridulation to attract females. Some species reach prodigious sizes in tropical regions, and males provide nuptial gifts to females during mating.
Amblycorypha bartrami
Bartram's round-winged katydid
Amblycorypha bartrami, commonly known as Bartram's round-winged katydid, is a species of phaneropterine katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. The species was described by Walker in 2003 and is found in North America. As a member of the genus Amblycorypha, it belongs to a group known for their remarkable leaf-mimicking camouflage and acoustic communication through stridulation.
Amblycorypha insolita
Big Bend Oblong-winged Katydid, Big Bend False Katydid
Amblycorypha insolita is a species of phaneropterine katydid in the family Tettigoniidae, first described by Rehn & Hebard in 1914. Known as the Big Bend oblong-winged katydid or Big Bend false katydid, this species is endemic to the southwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. It belongs to a genus renowned for exceptional camouflage and acoustic communication.
Amblycorypha parvipennis
Western Round-winged Katydid
Amblycorypha parvipennis, the western round-winged katydid, is a phaneropterine katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Missouri. Males produce calling songs for acoustic communication, a key feature of their mating behavior. The species exhibits typical katydid traits including leaf-mimicking wing venation and sound production via forewing stridulation.
Amblycorypha rivograndis
Rio Grande Valley False Katydid
Amblycorypha rivograndis is a species of round-headed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae, first described by Thomas J. Walker in 2004. The specific epithet "rivograndis" refers to the Rio Grande Valley, indicating its geographic association with this region of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Like other members of the genus Amblycorypha, it belongs to a group commonly known as false katydids or bush-crickets, recognized for their remarkable leaf-mimicking camouflage.
Anaxipha
Brown Sword-tail Crickets
Anaxipha is a genus of small swordtail crickets distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and western Pacific islands. Members are known as "brown sword-tail crickets" and are characterized by their acoustic communication systems, which in several studied species include both calling songs and previously undocumented courtship songs with substrate-borne vibrational signals (drumming). Some species occupy agricultural habitats such as rice fields, where they function as generalist predators.
Anaxipha hyalicetra
Ruby Road Trig
A sword-tailed cricket described in 2019 from southeastern Arizona near the Mexico border. It is the only North American Anaxipha species with broad, glassy tegmina. The species name 'hyalicetra' references the translucent wing membrane.
Anaxipha tinnula
Tidewater Trig
Small swordtail cricket described in 2014. Belongs to a genus of crickets distributed across eastern North America, with many species only recently described. Likely shares acoustic communication traits with congeners, including substrate-borne vibrational signaling.
Anaxipha tinnulacita
Fast-tinkling Trig
Anaxipha tinnulacita is a small swordtail cricket described in 2014 from eastern North America. Males produce both calling songs and distinct courtship songs when in the presence of females. This species exhibits substrate-borne vibrational communication through drumming behavior, which is unique among studied congeners in commonly occurring during calling songs.
Apatania
Apatania is a genus of caddisflies in the family Apataniidae comprising at least 90 described species. The genus has a Holarctic distribution, with species recorded across Europe, Asia, and North America. Several species have been studied in detail for their larval morphology, life cycles, and behavior. Some species, including A. muliebris, are known to reproduce parthenogenetically.
Aphomia
bee moth
Aphomia is a genus of small moths in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Galleriinae. Some species are nest parasites of bees and bumblebees (Anthophila), with larvae feeding on wax, honey, and pollen. Other species, such as A. gularis, are significant pests of stored agricultural products including nuts, dried fruit, and cereals. The genus exhibits diverse ecological strategies spanning parasitism of social insect nests and exploitation of stored food products.
Aphomia sociella
Bee Moth, Bumble Bee Wax Moth
Aphomia sociella, commonly known as the bee moth or bumble bee wax moth, is a small pyralid moth native to Europe that has become an economically significant pest of bee colonies. The species is notable for its unique dual-modal mating system combining sex pheromones and ultrasonic courtship songs produced by males using specialized tegular tymbals. Females lay eggs in nests of bumblebees, wasps, and occasionally weakened honeybee hives, where larvae feed on nest materials, pollen, honey, and host brood. Infestation levels increase with proximity to commercial apiaries, causing reduced host reproductive output and weakened immune responses in bumblebees.
Arphia
band-winged grasshoppers
Arphia is a genus of band-winged grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, containing at least 11 described species distributed across western North America. The genus is characterized by species with brightly colored hind wings—typically red, yellow, or orange—that are concealed at rest but displayed during flight. Several species are notable for producing audible crepitation sounds by snapping their wings together during courtship and territorial displays. Members occupy diverse grassland habitats from lowland prairies to high-elevation mountain meadows.
Bactrocera oleae
olive fruit fly, olive fly, δάκος της ελιάς
Bactrocera oleae is a tephritid fruit fly and the most destructive pest of olive cultivation worldwide. Larvae feed exclusively on olive fruits (Olea europaea), causing direct damage to pulp and oil quality. Annual crop losses can reach 30% without control, and exceed 90% in severe infestations. The species is monophagous on olives and has developed resistance to multiple insecticide classes, driving research into alternative management strategies including sterile insect technique and biological control.
Balclutha incisa
leafhopper
Balclutha incisa is a small leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, widespread in tropical and temperate regions. It is notably abundant in grasses and rice fields, where it feeds on host plants including rice (Oryza sativa) and various grasses. The species has been documented as a vector for 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' associated with grapevine disease 'bois noir'. Research has characterized its complex acoustic communication system, with males producing six distinct signal types and females engaging in precise duetting behavior. The species serves as host for multiple novel viruses including members of Aliusviridae, Iflaviridae, and Totiviridae families.
Beameria venosa
Aridland Cicada
Beameria venosa is one of the smallest cicada species in North America, with a body length of approximately 16 mm. It is a prairie obligate species distributed across the Great Plains from Nebraska and Colorado south to Texas and New Mexico, with additional records from Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, and Arizona. The species produces a high-frequency calling song that is audible to humans but appears to function as a predator avoidance mechanism by being inaudible to birds and lizards. It is listed as vulnerable in Missouri due to its dependence on restricted prairie habitats.
Cacama
Cactus Dodger Cicadas
Cacama is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, commonly known as "cactus dodger cicadas." The genus contains at least 12 recognized species distributed across western North America, from the southern Great Plains to California. These cicadas are notable for their association with cacti, particularly Opuntia and Cylindropuntia species, and their ability to navigate among spiny hosts without injury. The type species, Cacama valvata, has been studied for its thermal physiology and distinctive mating behaviors.
Cacama crepitans
Coastal Cactus Dodger
A medium to large cicada species commonly known as the Coastal Cactus Dodger. Males produce a loud, distinctive song described as a high-pitched metallic buzz or shrill, often delivered in short bursts. The species is closely associated with cactus hosts, particularly cholla and prickly pear, in arid and semi-arid regions. Adults are fast-flying and alert, making them challenging to approach. Females oviposit into dry, dead cactus stems rather than living tissue.
Cacama valvata
common cactus dodger
Cacama valvata, commonly known as the common cactus dodger, is a cicada species in the family Cicadidae. It is distributed across the southern Great Plains and western North America, from Texas and New Mexico west to California. The species is notable for its tight ecological association with cacti, particularly cholla (Cylindropuntia spp.) and prickly pear (Opuntia spp.), which serve as both host plants for nymphal root-feeding and perching sites for adults. Males produce a loud, distinctive song described as a high-pitched metallic zing or shrill buzz, often likened to a table saw cutting through wood. Adults are fast-flying, alert, and capable of landing on spiny cactus hosts without becoming impaled. The species has been observed engaging in courtship singing, with males approaching females while producing long, wavering shrills that transition to shorter sequences upon close approach, followed by leg touching, mounting, and copulation. Females oviposit almost exclusively in dry, dead, skeletonized cactus stems, where eggs may remain for several months awaiting fall rains to trigger hatching.
Cenocorixa
water boatmen
Cenocorixa is a genus of water boatmen (family Corixidae) comprising approximately 12 described species. These aquatic insects are notable for their specialized swimming mechanics using synchronized hind leg rowing, and for their complex acoustic communication systems involving species- and sex-specific stridulatory signals. Both males and females produce sound by rubbing specialized pegs on the fore femora against the head. The genus exhibits significant ecological research interest regarding feeding niche partitioning in sympatric and allopatric populations, with some species inhabiting saline lakes.
Chimarocephala pacifica
Painted Meadow Grasshopper, Painted Grasshopper
Chimarocephala pacifica is a band-winged grasshopper in the family Acrididae, commonly known as the painted meadow grasshopper. The species occurs in western North America and Central America, with subspecies C. p. pacifica and C. p. incisa recognized. Males produce acoustic signals through stridulation and vibration for sexual communication, while both sexes employ visual signals including a waving gesture.
Chimarocephala pacifica pacifica
A subspecies of band-winged grasshopper in the family Acrididae, known for its complex acoustic and visual communication behaviors. Males produce sounds by rubbing the inner surface of the hind femora against the tegmina. Sexual behavior is mediated through cyclic female receptivity phases, with males employing stridulations, vibrations, and visual signals to communicate with both sexes.
Chorthippus
slant-faced grasshoppers
Chorthippus is a large genus of gomphocerine grasshoppers comprising approximately 230 described species, predominantly distributed in the Palaearctic realm. The genus was erected by Franz Fieber in 1852 and has been subdivided into subgenera including Altichorthippus, Chorthippus, and Glyptobothrus. Many species within this genus are morphologically cryptic and difficult to distinguish visually, particularly in mainland Eurasia where song patterns serve as the primary means of species identification. The genus contains notable species groups such as the Chorthippus biguttulus group, which includes the common field grasshopper.
Chrysoperla harrisii
Harris's Green Lacewing
Chrysoperla harrisii is a green lacewing species in the family Chrysopidae, native to North America. Adults are predatory and feed on soft-bodied insects and honeydew. The species belongs to the Chrysoperla carnea-group, a complex of morphologically similar species that are difficult to distinguish without specialized techniques such as vibrational song analysis. Larvae are aggressive predators of aphids, mites, and other small arthropods, making this species valuable for biological pest control.
Chrysopidae
Green lacewings, lacewings, stinkflies, aphid lions, aphid wolves, junk bugs, trash bugs
Chrysopidae, commonly known as green lacewings, is a large family of neuropteran insects comprising approximately 85 genera and 1,300–2,000 species worldwide. Adults are delicate, often bright green insects with conspicuous golden compound eyes and translucent, iridescent wings with characteristic wide costal fields in the venation. Larvae are voracious predators nicknamed "aphid lions" or "trash bugs," known for carrying debris on their backs for camouflage while hunting soft-bodied prey. The family is economically significant as biological control agents, with millions reared annually for agricultural pest management.
Cicadettinae
Largeclasper Cicadas
Cicadettinae is a large subfamily of cicadas containing approximately 230 genera and 1,200 described species. Members are distributed globally across diverse habitats including eucalypt forests, grasslands, arid regions, and tropical woodlands. Male calling songs are species-specific and function in mate recognition; song structures vary from simple ticking or clicking to complex multi-element compositions. Many species are small to medium-sized and exhibit cryptic behavior, often remaining inconspicuous in vegetation.
Cicadettini
True Largeclasper Cicadas
Cicadettini is a large tribe of cicadas within the family Cicadidae, comprising at least 110 genera and over 520 described species. Members are distributed worldwide except for the Neotropics, with notable radiations in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Palearctic. The tribe includes diverse ecological specialists, from grassland inhabitants to species associated with seasonal riverine floodplains. Many species produce species-specific acoustic signals used for mate recognition.
Cicadinae
translucent cicadas
Cicadinae is a large subfamily of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) commonly known as the translucent cicadas. Members are typically robust with many species displaying bright coloration, though they generally lack the opaque, butterfly-like wing markings characteristic of the related subfamily Tibiceninae. The subfamily comprises multiple tribes and has undergone substantial taxonomic revision between 2010 and 2018 based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Some classification schemes merge Tibiceninae into Cicadinae partially or entirely.
Cicadomorpha
Spittlebugs, Cicadas, Leafhoppers and Treehoppers
Cicadomorpha is an infraorder of Hemiptera comprising approximately 35,000 described species worldwide, including cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers, and spittlebugs. The group has a fossil record extending to the Late Permian, with extinct families such as Palaeontinidae representing diverse Mesozoic lineages. All members are obligate plant-feeders utilizing specialized mouthparts for sap extraction. Many species produce acoustic signals or substrate vibrations for communication, with sound production mechanisms varying among superfamilies.
Cicadulini
Cicadulini is a tribe of leafhoppers within the subfamily Deltocephalinae, comprising 15 genera and over 120 described species. The tribe is characterized by acoustic communication through male calling signals, as documented in genera such as Taurotettix. Species within Cicadulini occur across diverse regions including Central Asia, Siberia, the Russian Far East, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and parts of Europe. The group has been studied for morphological variation and geographical variability in both form and sound production.
Conocephalinae
Coneheads and Meadow Katydids
Conocephalinae is a subfamily of katydids (family Tettigoniidae) comprising two main groups: meadow katydids (tribe Conocephalini, including genera Conocephalus and Orchelimum) and conehead katydids (tribe Copiphorini, including genera Neoconocephalus and Pyrgocorypha). Members are characterized by elongated bodies, long thread-like antennae, and often possess a distinctive forward-projecting cone or fastigium of the vertex. The subfamily is abundant in eastern North America and adjacent Canada, particularly in grasslands, wetlands, and meadows. Many species are known for their stridulatory songs produced by rubbing forewings together, and they exhibit diverse feeding habits ranging from herbivory to opportunistic predation.
Conocephalini
Common Meadow Katydids
Conocephalini is a tribe of katydids within the subfamily Conocephalinae, commonly known as meadow katydids and conehead katydids. Members are among the most abundant orthopterans in eastern North America and adjacent Canada. The tribe includes genera such as Conocephalus (lesser meadow katydids), Neoconocephalus (conehead katydids), and Orchelimum (greater meadow katydids). Many species exhibit omnivorous feeding habits and produce species-specific acoustic signals for mate attraction.
Conocephalus attenuatus
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid, Lance-tailed Meadow Katydid
Conocephalus attenuatus is a meadow katydid species in the family Tettigoniidae, found in North America. It is commonly known as the long-tailed meadow katydid or lance-tailed meadow katydid, referencing its distinctive elongated ovipositor. The species belongs to the subfamily Conocephalinae, a group abundant in grassland and wetland habitats of eastern North America. Like other meadow katydids, it produces species-specific acoustic signals through stridulation for mate attraction.
Copiphorini
Coneheads
Copiphorini is a tribe of katydids (Tettigoniidae) within the subfamily Conocephalinae, characterized by a distinctive cone-shaped projection on the head that extends forward in front of the antennae base. Members range from 24 to 74 mm in length, with females typically larger than males. The tribe was originally described as a subfamily (Copiphorinae) by Karny in 1912 but has been reclassified. Species produce loud songs through forewing stridulation and possess straight, slender, toothless ovipositors.
Corixidae
Water Boatmen, Lesser Water Boatmen
Corixidae is a family of aquatic true bugs in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water boatmen or lesser water boatmen. The family comprises approximately 500 species across 33-55 genera distributed worldwide in freshwater habitats, with a few species inhabiting saline waters. Members are distinguished from similar aquatic bugs by their right-side-up swimming posture, flattened body shape, and modified front legs adapted for feeding. The family exhibits diverse feeding strategies including herbivory, carnivory, detritivory, and omnivory.
Cornuplura nigroalbata
Western Pinto Cicada
Cornuplura nigroalbata is a rarely collected cicada species first described by Davis in 1936. The species exhibits a distinctive black and white color pattern. Males produce amplitude-modulated calling songs with a dominant frequency of approximately 6.5 kHz. The Arizona population represents the northernmost known extension of the species' range.
Cyphoderris
Hump-winged Grigs
Cyphoderris is a genus of primitive orthopterans known as hump-winged grigs, representing a relict lineage of the ancient family Haglidae (now Prophalangopsidae). These cold-adapted, nocturnal insects are restricted to high-elevation coniferous forests and sagebrush meadows of western North America. Males produce acoustic signals by rubbing their forewings together to attract females. The genus exhibits unusual reproductive biology in which females feed on male metathoracic wing tissue during copulation, and males provide substantial proteinaceous spermatophores. Only three species are currently recognized: C. strepitans, C. buckelli, and C. monstrosa.
Cyphoderris buckelli
Buckell's grig
Cyphoderris buckelli is a cold-adapted, hump-winged cricket (family Prophalangopsidae) found in high-elevation coniferous forests of western North America. Males produce acoustic calling songs and modify their chirp duty cycle in response to nearby conspecific males, though they do not defend fixed territories. The species exhibits low site fidelity and extensive male displacement between nights.
Cyphoderris monstrosa
Great Grig, Monster Haglid
Cyphoderris monstrosa is a relict species of hump-winged grig in the family Prophalangopsidae, one of only seven extant species in a family with over 90 known fossil species. This small orthopteran inhabits coniferous forests of western North America, where males produce high-pitched trilling calls at sundown to attract mates and defend territories. The species exhibits several unusual traits, including a unique mating ritual in which females feed on male hind wings during copulation, and dual sound-producing structures—males use tegminal stridulation while females and juveniles use the Ander's organ.
Dendroctonus adjunctus
roundheaded pine beetle
Dendroctonus adjunctus, commonly known as the roundheaded pine beetle, is a bark beetle native to North America that infests and kills pine trees. Adults are 5–6 mm long with shiny, dark brown to black exoskeletons covered in hairs. The species has a one-year life cycle, with adults colonizing weakened pine trees in autumn, constructing extensive egg galleries in the cambium and phloem. Outbreaks can be devastating, killing up to 50% of pines in pure stands. The beetle is distributed across the southwestern United States and Mexico, and is considered a serious pest of commercial and wild pine stocks.
Dendroctonus valens
Red Turpentine Beetle
Dendroctonus valens is a bark beetle native to North and Central America, ranging from Canada to Honduras. In its native range, it primarily colonizes stumps of freshly cut trees and stressed or damaged conifers, causing minimal economic damage. Following its accidental introduction to China in the mid-1990s, likely via wood packaging material, it has become a highly destructive invasive pest. In China, it attacks healthy as well as stressed pine trees, particularly Pinus tabuliformis, and has killed over six million trees. The species exhibits complex mating behavior involving acoustic signals and chemical pheromones, and maintains symbiotic relationships with fungi and bacteria that assist in nutrition and detoxification of host plant defenses.
Diceroprocta knighti
Dusty Flag-Bearer
Diceroprocta knighti is a cicada species in the family Cicadidae, distributed across the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is an annual cicada with a multi-year nymphal stage spent underground feeding on tree and shrub roots. Adults emerge during summer months, with males producing species-specific acoustic signals to attract females. The species is part of the diverse cicada fauna of the Sonoran Desert region, where it co-occurs with related congeners at different elevations.
cicadaDiceroproctaSonoran-Desertannual-cicadaHemipteraCicadidaeacoustic-communicationroot-feeding-nymphssummer-emergencesouthwestern-North-Americaxylem-feederdesert-arthropodinsect-songmulti-year-life-cycletymbal-organmonsoon-associated-emergenceCicadinaeFidicininiDavis-1917Dusty-Flag-BearerArizonaCaliforniaBaja-CaliforniaSinaloaSonoraMexicoUnited-Statesarthropodinsecttrue-bugAuchenorrhynchaCicadomorphaCicadoideaGuyalninaDrepana arcuata
Arched Hooktip Moth, masked birch caterpillar
Drepana arcuata, commonly known as the arched hooktip moth, is a North American species in the hooktip moth family Drepanidae. Adults are active from mid-May through late July, with one generation per year in northern populations. The species is notable for its larvae, which produce sounds through body vibrations, drumming, scraping mouthparts, and specialized anal structures—possibly to communicate and attract other larvae to communal silk shelters.
Empyreuma
spotted oleander caterpillar moth
Empyreuma is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, containing three species. The genus name derives from the Greek ἐμπύρευμα, meaning "a live coal covered with ashes." Adults exhibit striking aposematic coloration with orange and black patterns that mimic stinging wasps. Larvae feed exclusively on oleander (Nerium oleander), a toxic plant containing cardiac glycosides that the caterpillars sequester for their own defense. The genus is notable for its acoustic courtship behavior, with males producing sounds detected by female tympanic organs.
Galleriinae
wax moths, snout moths
The Galleriinae are a subfamily of snout moths (Pyralidae) with approximately 306 described species distributed worldwide. This subfamily includes the commercially significant wax moths, whose larvae (waxworms) are mass-produced as pet food and fishing bait. Several species are economically important pests: wax moths (Achroia and Galleria) damage honeybee colonies, while others such as the rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica) infest stored food products. The subfamily exhibits notable morphological diversity, with five recognized tribes including the recently described Joelminetiini (2007).
Gargara
Gargara is a genus of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, subfamily Centrotinae, tribe Gargarini. The genus was established by Amyot and Audinet-Serville in 1843. Species in this genus are distributed across the Palearctic region, with documented occurrences in Russia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Denmark, and Norway. The Gargara genistae species group contains cryptic species that are morphologically nearly identical but distinguished by male calling signal patterns.
Gomphocerinae
slant-faced grasshoppers
Gomphocerinae is a large subfamily of grasshoppers comprising at least 192 genera and 1,274 species distributed across every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Members are commonly known as slant-faced grasshoppers due to their characteristic head morphology. The subfamily is distinguished by a uniform femoral stridulatory mechanism used for acoustic communication, and exhibits remarkable diversity in calling songs and courtship behaviors. Many species inhabit grasslands and serve as important components of terrestrial food webs, though some are significant agricultural pests.
Gryllidea
crickets
Gryllidea is an infraorder within the suborder Ensifera comprising crickets and their relatives. The group contains two superfamilies—Grylloidea (true crickets, tree crickets, scaly crickets, and allies) and Gryllotalpoidea (mole crickets and ant crickets)—encompassing more than 6,000 described species globally. Members are characterized by acoustic communication through stridulation, with males producing species-specific songs to attract mates. The infraorder originated in the Triassic period approximately 250–200 million years ago and represents the third most diverse group within Orthoptera.
cricketsOrthopteraEnsiferaacoustic-communicationstridulationmole-cricketsant-cricketsmyrmecophilybioacousticsedible-insectsagricultural-pesthousehold-pestTriassic-originhemimetabolous-developmentkleptoparasitismchemical-mimicryautotomythigmotaxisinvasive-speciesDiestrammena-asynamoraAcheta-domesticusGryllodes-sigillatusGryllus-firmusParagordius-variushost-parasite-interactionsmitochondrial-genomicspositive-selectioncox1Nearctic-faunaYunnan-biodiversityurban-ecologysoil-ecosystem-engineeringdecomposerfood-securityalternative-proteinGryllinae
Field Crickets
Gryllinae, commonly known as field crickets, is a subfamily of true crickets in the family Gryllidae. These insects are characterized by their ability to produce sound through stridulation of the forewings, with males generating species-specific calling songs to attract females. Field crickets exhibit hemimetabolous development, with nymphs undergoing multiple molts before reaching adulthood. The subfamily includes numerous genera distributed worldwide, with many species serving as important model organisms in studies of behavioral ecology, neurophysiology, and evolutionary biology.
Gryllotalpa major
prairie mole cricket
Gryllotalpa major, the prairie mole cricket, is the largest cricket species in North America, endemic to the tallgrass prairie ecosystems of the south-central United States. Males exhibit a classical lekking mating system, constructing specialized acoustic burrows that amplify their calling songs to attract flying females from distances up to 400 meters. The species is threatened by habitat loss due to prairie conversion, with current populations restricted to fragmented sites in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Arkansas. Research has documented unique acoustic behaviors, including harmonic chirps rather than trills, and vibrational communication between neighboring males through the soil.
Gryllus
field cricket
Gryllus is a widespread genus of field crickets in the family Gryllidae, with members found across Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Adults typically measure 15–31 mm and are darkly colored. Species in this genus are often difficult to distinguish from related genera based on external morphology alone; male genitalia, particularly the structure of the epithallus, provide more reliable identification characters. The genus has been extensively studied for its acoustic communication, with male calling songs used for mate attraction and territorial defense.
Gryllus fultoni
Southern Wood Cricket
Gryllus fultoni, the southern wood cricket, is a field cricket species found in the southeastern United States. It overwinters as a juvenile and matures in spring, inhabiting forested environments. The species produces a distinctive calling song consisting of fast-pulsed chirps. In areas of sympatry with Gryllus vernalis, G. fultoni exhibits reproductive character displacement, with divergence in calling song characters and mirror area that enhances reproductive isolation.
Gryllus lineaticeps
Variable Field Cricket
Gryllus lineaticeps, the variable field cricket, is a North American field cricket species distinguished by its flexible mate-searching behavior. Females exhibit phonotaxis toward male calling songs and adjust their preferences based on acoustic experience, rejecting lower-quality songs after exposure to more attractive alternatives. Males produce energetically costly calls, with oxygen consumption increasing 2.7 times basal rates during chirping. The species undergoes flight muscle histolysis during the transition from dispersal to reproduction, with autophagy selectively breaking down dorsal longitudinal flight muscles while preserving dorsoventral muscles for walking. Thermal preferences vary across the diel cycle and shift in response to starvation, reflecting life history trade-offs between activity and energy conservation.
Gryllus longicercus
Long-cercus Field Cricket
Gryllus longicercus is a field cricket species described in 2019, notable for possessing the longest known cerci in the genus Gryllus. It represents the first New World cricket to have its genome fully assembled and annotated, with a 1.85 Gb genome containing 19,715 transcripts from 14,789 gene models. The species inhabits rocky desert landscapes and exhibits characteristic acoustic communication typical of field crickets.
Gryllus pennsylvanicus
Fall Field Cricket
Gryllus pennsylvanicus, commonly known as the fall field cricket, is a widespread North American cricket species distinguished by its autumn breeding season and distinctive chirping. Adults are medium-sized crickets, 15–25 mm in length, with dark black to dark brown coloration and occasionally a slight reddish tint. The species is notable for its temperature-dependent chirping rate, which has been used as a biological thermometer. Males produce calling songs from burrow entrances to attract females, with older males typically preferred by females. The species has an annual life cycle with one generation per year, overwintering as eggs in soil.
Gryllus rubens
Southeastern field cricket
Gryllus rubens, the southeastern field cricket, is a trilling field cricket native to the southeastern United States. It is a cryptic sister species to G. texensis, from which it originated via peripatric speciation. The species exhibits remarkable phenotypic plasticity in its communication system, with male calling songs and female preferences shifting reversibly between spring and fall generations in response to temperature. Wing polymorphism is environmentally and genetically influenced, with long-winged morphs appearing in spring/summer and short-winged morphs predominating in autumn/winter.
Hadoa chisosensis
Southern Piñon Sun-Singer
Hadoa chisosensis is a species of annual cicada in the genus Hadoa, native to Texas and adjacent areas of northern Mexico. The species is commonly known as the Southern Piñon Sun-Singer. As a member of the Cicadidae family, it produces acoustic signals typical of cicadas. The specific epithet 'chisosensis' refers to the Chisos Mountains region of Texas, indicating its association with this geographic area.
Hadoa texana
Texas Dog-day Cicada
Hadoa texana is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae, commonly known as the Texas Dog-day Cicada. It is native to the south-central United States, with records from Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Like other cicadas, it produces loud acoustic signals using specialized tymbal organs. The species was originally described by Metcalf in 1963 and was later transferred to the genus Hadoa following taxonomic revision that split the broadly defined genus Tibicen.
Hamadryas
Cracker Butterflies
Hamadryas is a genus of medium-sized brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) native to the Neotropics. Males produce distinctive 'cracking' sounds during territorial displays, giving the group its common name. The genus includes approximately 20 species, with Hamadryas amphinome (Red Cracker) among the most well-known. These butterflies are characterized by their cryptic underwing patterns and rapid, erratic flight behavior.
Hamadryas feronia
Variable Cracker, Blue Cracker
Hamadryas feronia, commonly known as the variable cracker or blue cracker, is a neotropical butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is notable for producing loud clicking sounds during flight, a trait that gives the 'cracker' butterflies their common name. The species exhibits bark-mimicking camouflage and complex acoustic communication between males. Two subspecies are recognized: H. feronia feronia in South America and H. feronia farinulenta in Central America and Mexico.
Homalodisca liturata
smoketree sharpshooter, lacertate sharpshooter
Homalodisca liturata, commonly known as the smoketree sharpshooter or lacertate sharpshooter, is a relatively large leafhopper species native to North America, measuring approximately 13 mm in length. The species exhibits strong host-plant associations, with documented preference for desert smoketree (Psorothamnus spinosus) where available, though it utilizes multiple host species. H. liturata is a known vector of Xylella fastidiosa, the bacterial pathogen causing Pierce's disease in grapevines and other plant diseases. Both sexes produce acoustic signals, a notable behavioral trait among sharpshooters. The species has been documented harboring phytoplasma bacteria related to 'Candidatus Phytoplasma hispanicum' in its salivary glands, suggesting potential involvement in transmitting yellows-type diseases.
Hylurgopinus rufipes
Native Elm Bark Beetle
The native elm bark beetle is a small scolytine weevil and principal vector of Dutch elm disease in the northern Great Plains and prairie provinces of Canada. Adults are brownish-red, measuring 2.3–2.9 mm, and complete one generation annually. Overwintered adults emerge in spring to colonize weakened or dying American elm, constructing egg galleries in the inner bark where larvae feed on cambium tissue. The species exhibits distinctive acoustic communication: males produce simple multipulse calls, stress/rivalry chirps, and bimodal premating stridulation at gallery sites, while females do not stridulate. Males become strongly arrested at attractive female galleries and engage in brief contests with rival males shortly after a resident male establishes presence.
Hylurgus
red-haired bark beetles
Hylurgus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. The genus includes economically significant forestry pests, most notably Hylurgus ligniperda (red-haired bark beetle), which is native to Eurasia and has established invasive populations on multiple continents. Species in this genus are associated with coniferous hosts, particularly Pinus species, and maintain complex symbiotic relationships with fungi and bacteria that facilitate host colonization and environmental adaptation.
Hylurgus ligniperda
Goldenhaired Bark Beetle, Red-haired Bark Beetle
Hylurgus ligniperda is an invasive bark beetle native to Europe that has established populations across multiple continents. It is a significant forest pest primarily associated with pine trees (Pinus spp.), where it colonizes roots and lower trunk sections. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in acoustic communication: males produce stridulatory sounds during courtship and disturbance, while females are silent. Its invasion success is facilitated by symbiotic relationships with ophiostomatoid fungi and diverse bacterial communities that assist with host adaptation, detoxification of plant secondary metabolites, and tolerance to environmental temperature fluctuations.
Lepidurus
tadpole shrimp
Lepidurus is one of two extant genera of tadpole shrimp (order Notostraca), distinguished from Triops by morphological and ecological traits. Species inhabit temporary freshwater pools, vernal pools, and permanent lakes across diverse climates from Arctic tundra to desert regions. The genus exhibits notable life history flexibility, with resting eggs capable of surviving desiccation and freezing for decades. Some species are of conservation concern due to habitat specificity, while others serve as agricultural pests or bioindicators of environmental change.
Leptophyes
bush-crickets, katydids
Leptophyes is a genus of bush-crickets in the family Tettigoniidae, erected by Franz Xaver Fieber in 1853. Members are characterized by exceptionally long antennae, often exceeding four times the body length, and elongated legs with tibiae twice the length of the pronotum. The genus belongs to the subfamily Phaneropterinae, a group known for acoustic communication involving sound production by both sexes. Species occur across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Leptophyes punctatissima
Speckled Bush-cricket
Leptophyes punctatissima, commonly known as the Speckled Bush-cricket, is a flightless bush-cricket species distributed across most of Europe. It belongs to the subfamily Phaneropterinae and exhibits distinctive acoustic behavior where both sexes stridulate. Males produce calling songs to which females respond with brief chirps, creating a duetting communication system. The species has been studied extensively for its auditory physiology and directional hearing capabilities.
Ligurotettix
Clicker Grasshoppers
Ligurotettix is a genus of clicker grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, subfamily Gomphocerinae, containing at least two described species: L. coquilletti (desert clicker grasshopper) and L. planum (Pecos clicker grasshopper). Members are known for their distinctive acoustic territorial displays. The genus is distributed across southwestern North American deserts.
Ligurotettix coquilletti
desert clicker grasshopper, creosote bush grasshopper
A slant-faced grasshopper species specialized on creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) across the southwestern deserts of North America. Males are highly territorial, defending individual host plants as mating territories through acoustic stridulation. The species exhibits a distinctive evening chorus behavior and maintains a color polymorphism (banded and uniform morphs) shaped by predation pressure. Females oviposit in bare soil away from host plants, and the species undergoes winter egg diapause.
Ligurotettix planum
Pecos Clicker Grasshopper
Ligurotettix planum, the Pecos Clicker Grasshopper, is a species of slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It belongs to the genus Ligurotettix, which includes several species known for their acoustic territorial displays. The species occurs in arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with creosote bush and other desert vegetation.
Limotettix ferganensis
Leafhopper taxon described from the Fergana Valley region. Currently treated as a junior synonym of Limotettix striola by most modern sources, though some authors recognize it as a subspecies (L. striola ferganensis) based on subtle penis shape differences in West Tien Shan populations. The name has been applied to both Palearctic and Nearctic specimens, but these represent distinct taxa.
Limotettix striola
Limotettix striola is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae. The species exhibits morphological variability across its range, with males producing acoustic calling signals for communication. A distinct subspecies, L. striola ferganensis, occurs in the West Tien Shan region and is distinguished by differences in male genitalia morphology. Taxonomic clarification has resolved confusion with Nearctic populations previously assigned to this name.
Lipara lucens
Cigar Gall
Lipara lucens is a gall-forming frit fly (Diptera: Chloropidae) that induces characteristic cigar-shaped galls on common reed (Phragmites australis). The species is monophagous, completing its entire larval development within reed stems. Males produce species-specific acoustic signals through wing vibration and abdominal movement to locate females, who respond with answering vibrations. This substrate-borne communication reduces mate-searching time by allowing males to rapidly assess reed stems for receptive females.
Listroscelidinae
Spiny Predatory Katydids
Listroscelidinae is a subfamily of predatory katydids (Tettigoniidae) distributed across the Americas, Madagascar, and Australia. Members are characterized by spiny morphology and predatory habits, with enlarged mandibles adapted for capturing prey. The subfamily contains multiple tribes including Listroscelidini, Terpandrini, Requenini, Hamayulini, and Conocephalomimini. Several genera have been described in recent decades, particularly from the Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil and northern Australia. The genus Arachnoscelis gained public attention after appearing on the cover of Science in 2012.
Magicicada cassinii
Cassin's periodical cicada, dwarf periodical cicada
Magicicada cassinii is one of three species of 17-year periodical cicadas endemic to eastern North America. Adults emerge synchronously every 17 years in massive broods, with males producing distinctive calling songs peaking at 4-7 kHz. The species is morphologically indistinguishable from the 13-year Magicicada tredecassini, and the two are collectively referred to as 'cassini-type' periodical cicadas. Males are notable for their ability to synchronize courting behavior, creating choruses of tens of thousands of individuals.
Megatibicen dorsatus
Bush Cicada, Giant Grassland Cicada, Grand Western Cicada, Splendid Prairie Cicada
Megatibicen dorsatus, commonly known as the Bush Cicada or Giant Grassland Cicada, is a large, striking cicada species endemic to the tallgrass and shortgrass prairies of the central United States. Adults are among the largest North American cicadas, measuring approximately 57 mm in length, with distinctive white waxy markings on a dark body. Males produce loud, characteristic songs using internal tymbal organs to attract females. The species has an annual life cycle with staggered emergences, with adults active primarily from July through September. M. dorsatus is frequently found perched on low vegetation in open grassland habitats, where its contrasting coloration provides surprising cryptic protection. Adult males serve as hosts for the acoustically hunting sarcophagid parasitoid Emblemasoma erro.
Metaleptea
clip-wing grasshoppers
Metaleptea is a genus of short-horned grasshoppers (family Acrididae) containing at least two described species distributed across North, Central, and South America. The genus is characterized by specialized wing structures used in acoustic communication. Males produce three distinct sound types—copulation, rivalry, and crepitation—through stridulation of modified hindwing veins against the forewings. The best-known species, Metaleptea brevicornis, is commonly called the clip-wing grasshopper.
Metrioptera
bush crickets, bog bush crickets, meadow bush crickets
Metrioptera is a genus of bush crickets (Tettigoniidae) in the tribe Platycleidini, commonly known as bog and meadow bush crickets. The genus contains approximately 10 species distributed across Eurasia, including notable species such as Metrioptera brachyptera (the bog bush cricket), M. roeselii (Roesel's bush cricket), and M. bicolor. Species within this genus have been extensively studied as model organisms for understanding insect dispersal, population genetics, and acoustic communication. Several species exhibit wing dimorphism, with both fully winged and short-winged or flightless forms occurring within populations.
Metrioptera sphagnorum
bog katydid
Metrioptera sphagnorum, the bog katydid, is a shield-backed katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America, particularly in Canada. The species is notable for its distinctive acoustic behavior: males produce a prolonged trill song that alternates regularly between two intensity levels, with corresponding audio and ultrasonic frequency modes.
Microcentrum rhombifolium
greater angle-wing katydid, broad-winged katydid, angular-winged katydid
A large, leaf-mimicking katydid native to North America, recognized by its rhombus-shaped green wings and distinctive 'ticking' call. Adults reach 50–65 mm in length and are most active in late summer and autumn. The species is among the most convincing leaf mimics in its family, with broad, reticulate-veined tegmina that provide excellent crypsis in deciduous vegetation. Males produce intermittent calling songs and courtship songs consisting of repeated ticks once a female is attracted.
Monochamus titillator
Southern Pine Sawyer
Monochamus titillator is a large longhorned beetle native to the United States, commonly known as the southern pine sawyer. Adults are notable for their elongated antennae, particularly in males, which may exceed body length. The species develops in pine trees and has been documented to respond to kairomones produced by bark beetles, suggesting ecological interactions with these forest pests. Larvae produce distinctive acoustic signals detectable in the 1000-2800 Hz range, a trait that has been explored for detecting southern pine beetle infestations.
Neduba
shield-back katydid
Neduba is a genus of shield-back katydids (Tettigoniidae) endemic to North America. The genus comprises 21 described species, including one extinct species (N. extincta). A 2021 revision established species boundaries using molecular phylogenetics, morphology, quantitative analysis of calling songs, and karyotypes. The group represents a relict lineage whose diversification reflects cycles of allopatric isolation and secondary contact in western North America.
Nemobius sylvestris
Wood Cricket
Nemobius sylvestris, commonly known as the wood cricket, is a small, flightless cricket native to Western Europe and North Africa. Adults measure 7–10 mm (males) or 9–12 mm (females) and are dark brown with reduced, non-functional wings. The species inhabits woodland edges and clearings, where it lives among leaf litter and is closely associated with deciduous trees such as oak, beech, hazel, and holly. It has been introduced to North America, with populations documented in New York and Washington. In Britain, it is uncommon and listed as a species of special conservation concern, with populations restricted to the New Forest, Isle of Wight, and southern Devon.
Neocicada
Painted Cicadas
Neocicada is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, tribe Leptopsaltriini, containing approximately five described species distributed across North and Central America. The genus was established by Kato in 1932 and is taxonomically distinct from other North American cicada genera, with its closest relative being the Old World genus Cicada. Species within this genus include N. hieroglyphica (the hieroglyphic cicada), N. chisos (the chisos cicada), and three species described in 2005: N. australamexicana, N. centramericana, and N. mediamexicana. Members produce loud daytime calls and are attracted to ultraviolet and mercury-vapor lights.
Neoconocephalus
common coneheads, conehead katydids
Neoconocephalus is a genus of large katydids in the tribe Copiphorini, commonly known as conehead katydids. Members are characterized by a prominent cone-shaped projection on the head, which varies in shape and size among species. The genus is distributed across the Americas, with many species in North America and additional diversity in Central and South America. Conehead katydids are notable for their acoustic communication, with males producing species-specific songs to attract females. Some species exceed seven centimeters in length, making them among the largest katydids in their range.
Neoconocephalus triops
Broad-tipped Conehead
Neoconocephalus triops, commonly known as the broad-tipped conehead, is a large katydid species in the family Tettigoniidae. It has a wide geographic distribution spanning from Peru to Ohio, USA, including the Caribbean and North America. Females use male pulse rate and call structure for mate recognition, with documented geographic variation in signal preferences between populations. Puerto Rican females show high selectivity for pulse rate but not call structure, while Costa Rican females prefer versed calls and show temperature-dependent selectivity for pulse rate.
Neoscapteriscus borellii
Southern Mole Cricket
Neoscapteriscus borellii, commonly known as the southern mole cricket, is a fossorial orthopteran native to South America that has become an established invasive pest in the southeastern United States since its introduction around 1900. Unlike its herbivorous relatives, this species is primarily predatory, feeding on insects and earthworms. Its extensive tunneling in sandy soils damages lawns, pastures, golf courses, and cultivated plants by loosening soil, uprooting vegetation, and promoting desiccation.
Neotibicen canicularis
dog-day cicada, dog-day harvestfly, heatbug, Northern Dog-day Cicada
Neotibicen canicularis is an annual cicada species found across much of North America, commonly known as the dog-day cicada or dog-day harvestfly. Unlike periodical cicadas that emerge in synchronized broods every 13 or 17 years, this species appears every summer, though individuals require several years to develop underground. Adults are active during the hot midsummer period traditionally called the "dog days." The species has been documented as a host for multiple flesh fly parasitoids in the family Sarcophagidae, including several first-record associations.
cicadaannual-cicadadog-day-cicadaHemipteraCicadidaeNeotibicenNorth-Americaparasitoid-hostflesh-flySarcophagidaesummersongtymbalnocturnal-emergencenymphroot-feedercarrionEmblemasomaHelicobiaSarcophagaOntarioQuébecOklahomaprairiewoodlandentomologyinsect-photographyMr.-JulyESA-calendarKeith-KennedyTed-MacRaeCatherine-DanaJohn-CooleyGene-Kritskycicada-killerSphecius-speciosusperiodical-cicada-contrastclimate-change-indicatorsoil-temperature-emergencebrood-XIIIbrood-XIXMagicicadaMegatibicenNeotibicen-auriferusNeotibicen-pruinosusNeotibicen-superbusMegatibicen-dorsatusMegatibicen-tremulusMegatibicen-dealbatuscicada-mappingCicada-Safaricitizen-scienceiNaturalistGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBI-Taxonomylate-summerAugustJulyMontréalWoodward-CountyCimarron-CountyMajor-CountyBeaver-CountyAlabaster-Caverns-State-ParkGloss-Mountain-State-ParkBeaver-Dunes-ParkBlack-Mesa-State-Parkshortgrass-prairiehackberrybumeliajunipercanyon-woodlandmesquite-chaparralsand-duneHelianthus-annuusHelianthus-petiolarisProsopis-glandulosaPopulus-deltoidesRhus-aromaticaAsclepias-engelmanniiAsclepias-latifoliaSideroxylon-lanuginosumEuphorbia-marginatajug-trapLindgren-funnelultraviolet-lightmercury-vapor-lightacoustic-communicationpredator-avoidancecamouflagegreen-and-black-colorationcicada-killer-waspparasitoidEmblemasoma-albicomaEmblemasoma-erroHelicobia-rapaxSarcophaga-sarracenioidesSarcophaga-utilisfirst-recordnew-host-associationnew-provincial-recordnutrient-cyclingcarrion-resourcefood-webpredator-preyaerationflaggingtree-pruningclimate-changeearlier-emergencesoil-temperature64-Fahrenheitstraggler-cicadabrood-overlapIllinoisMidwestGreat-Plainseastern-forestannual-emergencesynchronous-emergencemass-emergencebrood-Xbrood-IIbrood-XIVbrood-XXIII17-year-cicada13-year-cicadaMagicicada-septendecimMagicicada-cassiniMagicicada-septendeculaOkanagana-rimosaSay's-cicadaTibicenAbrictaAmphipsaltaAruntaAustrotomaAyuthiaBaeturiaBalintaBasaBrevisanaCacamaCalyriaCicadatraCicadettaCicadivettaCosmopsaltriaCyclochilaDiceroproctaDundubiaEuterpnosiaFidicinaFidicinoidesGaeanaHenicopsaltriaHerreraHuechysHyalessaHylocicadaJassopsaltriaKikihiaLembejaLemurianaMacrotristriaMaoricicadaMoganniaMudaMyerscicadaNeopsaltriaNotopsaltaOkanaganaOkanagodesOligoglenaOnoralnaOudeboschiaPacarinaPahariaPalapsaltaPauropsaltaPictilaPlatypleuraPomponiaPsaltodaPterapsaltaQuesadaQuintiliaRaiateanaSaticulaSemiaSonotympanaSoudaniellaTaipingaTannaTerpnosiaTettigadesTettigettaThophaTibicinaTosenaTryellaUradolichosVenustriaXeropsaltaYezoterpnosiaZammaraZaphsaNeotibicen robinsonianus
Robinson's Annual Cicada, Robinson's cicada
Neotibicen robinsonianus, commonly known as Robinson's Annual Cicada, is a large-bodied annual cicada native to the Eastern United States. Males produce species-specific acoustic signals using tymbal organs located on the ventral abdomen. The species is active during late summer and early autumn, with observations and carcasses documented along woodland trails and prairie interfaces. It occurs sympatrically with other Neotibicen species such as N. lyricens, with which it can be found singing in the same habitats.
Ocypodidae
Ghost and Fiddler Crabs
Ocypodidae is a family of semiterrestrial crabs comprising approximately 180 described species across 13 extant genera. The family includes two well-known groups: ghost crabs (genus Ocypode) and fiddler crabs (multiple genera including Leptuca and Minuca), plus the mangrove crabs of genus Ucides. Members are characterized by markedly unequal chelipeds in males, with the larger cheliped always exceeding carapace length. The family underwent substantial taxonomic revision in 2016, when the genus Uca was divided into 13 separate genera.
Oecanthus
tree crickets, common tree crickets
Oecanthus is a genus of tree crickets comprising approximately 20 recognized species distributed across North America and other regions. These small, slender crickets are known for their distinctive acoustic communication, with males producing species-specific songs by stridulating their modified forewings. The genus includes both arboreal species found in shrubs and trees, as well as species inhabiting grassy fields and meadows.
Oecanthus forbesi
Forbes' tree cricket
Oecanthus forbesi is a species of tree cricket in the family Oecanthidae, native to North America. The species is closely related to O. nigricornis and can be distinguished reliably only by the pulse rate of the male's song, which increases with temperature. Males produce sound through stridulation, with a measured rate of 55-56 pulses per second at approximately 15°C. The species has a yellowish head with distinctive black markings on the first two antennal segments.
Oecanthus fultoni
snowy tree cricket, thermometer cricket
A North American tree cricket known for its distinctive chirping used in film soundtracks. The species exhibits a temperature-dependent chirp rate that allows temperature estimation. Adults are active from mid-July to mid-November. The species was formally described in 1962 after being confused with O. niveus for nearly two centuries.
Oecanthus nigricornis
black-horned tree cricket, common tree cricket
Oecanthus nigricornis, commonly known as the black-horned tree cricket, is a species of tree cricket in the subfamily Oecanthinae found across North America. Males produce a distinctive courtship song using modified forewings and offer nutritional glandular secretions from a metanotal gland as nuptial gifts during mating. The species has been documented as a host for the parasitoid fly Stylogaster neglecta, with juvenile parasitism rates varying considerably across its range.
Oecanthus niveus
narrow-winged tree cricket, snowy tree cricket
Oecanthus niveus is a small tree cricket species in the family Oecanthidae, first described by Charles de Geer in 1773 from a Pennsylvania specimen. Adults measure 13–16 mm and are pale green with distinctive orange markings on the head. The species is notable for its temperature-dependent calling song, with males producing sounds at rates and frequencies that vary predictably with ambient temperature. It occurs primarily in eastern North America and the Caribbean, where it inhabits broad-leaved trees, shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation.
Oecanthus quadripunctatus
Four-spotted Tree Cricket
Oecanthus quadripunctatus, the four-spotted tree cricket, is a small cricket species in the subfamily Oecanthinae. It is one of five tree cricket species documented in Colorado and occurs across North America. The species is distinguished by markings on the first two antennal segments, though identification to species can be challenging due to the minute size of these diagnostic features. Males produce songs using modified forewings and possess a metanotal gland that secretes a substance consumed by females during courtship.
Oecanthus salvii
Sage Tree Cricket
Oecanthus salvii, described by Collins in 2020, is a recently recognized species of tree cricket in the family Oecanthidae. Known by the common name Sage Tree Cricket, this species belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive acoustic communication and specialized courtship behaviors. As a newly described taxon, detailed biological information remains limited. The species has been documented through citizen science observations, with records accumulating on platforms such as iNaturalist.
Oecanthus texensis
Texas Tree Cricket
Oecanthus texensis is a tree cricket species described in 2013 from Texas. It belongs to a genus known for distinctive courtship behaviors, including male singing and metanotal gland secretions that females feed upon during mating. Like other Oecanthus species, it is likely small, green, and cryptic in vegetation. The species was distinguished from congeners based on morphological and acoustic characteristics.
Okanagana
Okanagana is a genus of cicadas comprising approximately 60 described species, primarily distributed in western North America. Species in this genus are generally arid- or cold-adapted, with most occurring in western U.S. states and Canada. The genus includes notable exceptions such as O. viridis, which inhabits temperate deciduous forests of the southeastern United States. Okanagana species are characterized by their acoustic communication, with males producing species-specific calling songs. Several species have been studied as hosts for specialized parasitoids, including the sarcophagid fly Emblemasoma auditrix, which locates hosts through phonotaxis to male calling songs.
Oncopsis
Oncopsis is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Macropsinae. The genus is characterized by pronotal striations that run parallel to the hind margin. Species occur across the Holarctic region, with documented diversity in Europe, Asia, and North America. Many species exhibit strong host plant specificity, particularly for trees in the families Betulaceae and Corylaceae.
Opsiini
Opsiini is a tribe of leafhoppers in the subfamily Deltocephalinae, established by Emeljanov in 1962. The tribe comprises approximately 36 genera and over 300 species, organized into four subtribes: Achaeticina, Circuliferina, Eremophlepsiina, and Opsiina. Members are distributed across the Palearctic and Oriental regions, with particular diversity in arid and semi-arid zones of Central Asia and China. Several species groups within Opsiini have been subject to intensive taxonomic revision due to cryptic species complexes distinguishable primarily by male vibrational acoustic signals rather than morphology.
Orchelimum
meadow katydid
Orchelimum is a genus of meadow katydids in the family Tettigoniidae, comprising 21 described species. These insects are characterized by their exceptionally long, thread-like antennae and are among the most abundant orthopterans in eastern North America and adjacent Canada. Males produce species-specific songs through stridulation, rubbing a file on one forewing against a scraper on the other. Many species exhibit opportunistic predation on other insects, particularly when plant food sources are limited or when seeking additional protein.
Orocharis
Orocharis is a genus of bush crickets in the family Oecanthidae, historically treated as a subgenus of Hapithus. The genus is characterized by flightless species and has been the subject of systematic studies focusing on acoustic signaling behavior. Taxonomic treatment varies across sources, with some authorities recognizing it as a distinct genus and others as a subgenus within Hapithus.
Orthoptera
grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, katydids, bush crickets, wētā
Orthoptera is a diverse order of insects comprising over 20,000 species worldwide, including grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, katydids, and wētā. The order is defined by enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping, stridulatory sound production, and incomplete metamorphosis. Orthopterans are divided into two monophyletic suborders: Caelifera (grasshoppers and locusts) and Ensifera (crickets and katydids). The group originated approximately 300 million years ago, with the divergence between suborders occurring around 256 million years ago.
Petrophila
Petrophila is a genus of aquatic moths in the family Crambidae, described by Lansdown Guilding in 1830. The genus comprises approximately 30-40 species distributed primarily in North America. Larvae are fully aquatic and inhabit flowing water systems, where they graze on algae and diatoms. Adults are diurnal and typically found resting on rocks near water bodies. The genus has become a notable subject of citizen science research due to the cryptic nature of many species, which can be difficult to distinguish without detailed examination.
Phaneropterinae
Leaf Katydids, Sickle-bearing Bush Crickets, False Katydids, Round-headed Katydids
Phaneropterinae is a large subfamily of katydids (family Tettigoniidae) comprising approximately 2,060 species in 85 genera worldwide. Members are commonly known as leaf katydids, sickle-bearing bush crickets, false katydids, or round-headed katydids. The subfamily name derives from the type genus Phaneroptera, meaning 'visible wing,' referring to the exposed tips of the inner wings in many species. The group was first erected by Hermann Burmeister in 1838 and represents one of the most diverse lineages within Tettigoniidae.
Platypedia
Wing-tapping Cicadas
Platypedia is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae containing at least 20 described species distributed across western North America. Unlike most cicadas, males in this genus lack tymbal organs and instead produce sound through crepitation—snapping their wings together or striking them against vegetation. This alternative sound production mechanism enables two-way acoustic communication between males and females, as females also produce sound. The genus occurs primarily in montane habitats, with species segregated by elevation.
Platypedia barbata
Platypedia barbata is a species of cicada described by Davis in 1920. Like other members of its genus, it lacks the timbal organs used by most cicadas for sound production. Instead, it produces sound through crepitation—snapping its wings against its body or substrate. The species occurs in California and is part of a diverse western North American genus comprising 21 species and four subspecies.
Platypedia putnami
Putnam's Cicada, Putnam's Wing-banger
Platypedia putnami is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae, commonly known as Putnam's Cicada or Putnam's Wing-banger. It occurs in mountainous regions of western North America, typically at elevations around 6,000 feet in evergreen forest understory. Unlike most cicadas, males lack abdominal tymbals and instead produce sound by snapping their wings against vegetation—a behavior termed crepitation. The species has four recognized subspecies distributed across its range.
Platypedia scotti
Platypedia scotti is a species of cicada in the family Cicadidae, described by Davis in 1935. Like other members of the genus Platypedia, males of this species lack tymbal organs and produce sound through crepitation—snapping their wings against vegetation—rather than the typical cicada singing mechanism. The species is known from California and belongs to a group of western North American cicadas often called "wing-bangers" or "wing-tappers."
Platypedia vanduzeei
Platypedia vanduzeei is a small cicada species in the family Cicadidae, native to western North America. It belongs to a group of "wing-banger" or "wing-tapper" cicadas that produce sound through crepitation—snapping their wings against vegetation—rather than using the abdominal tymbal organs typical of most cicadas. The species was described by Davis in 1920 and is known from California and Nevada.
Pseudohylesinus
Pseudohylesinus is a genus of crenulate bark beetles (family Curculionidae) comprising at least 20 described species. Members are small, slender beetles (approximately 2.8 mm length) associated with coniferous trees in western North America. The genus includes economically notable species such as the Douglas-fir hylesinus (P. nebulosus), which attacks Douglas-fir and related hosts. Species in this genus exhibit distinctive reproductive behaviors including acoustic signaling and primary attraction to host volatiles rather than pheromone-mediated aggregation.
Pseudophyllinae
True Katydids
Pseudophyllinae is a large subfamily of katydids (Tettigoniidae) distinguished by exceptional leaf-mimicry. Members typically possess broad, flattened forewings with venation patterns that replicate leaf veins, blotches, and even simulated herbivore damage. The group contains over 20 tribes distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with major radiations in the Neotropics, Afrotropics, and Southeast Asia. Many species are nocturnal and arboreal, inhabiting forest canopies where their crypsis provides effective predator avoidance.
Rhagoletis juglandis
walnut husk fly, black walnut fly
Rhagoletis juglandis is a univoltine tephritid fruit fly that infests walnut husks, primarily in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults emerge in mid to late summer and feed on dew and plant sap. Females deposit eggs in batches beneath the husk surface of developing walnuts; larvae tunnel into the inner husk and feed for 3–5 weeks before pupating in soil. The species exhibits distinctive courtship behavior including male low-frequency wing vibration with infrasound, and engages in superparasitism—reusing infested hosts even when uninfested fruits are available. It is a pest of cultivated walnuts and has been introduced to Europe.
Rhyssomatus
Rhyssomatus is a genus of true weevils (Curculionidae) containing at least 180 described species. The genus includes significant agricultural pests, particularly of soybean and other leguminous crops. Several species have been intensively studied due to their economic impact, including R. nigerrimus (Mexican soybean weevil), R. subtilis (black soybean weevil in Argentina), and R. lineaticollis (milkweed stem weevil in North America). Species exhibit diverse life histories ranging from monophagous specialists to oligophagous generalists on legumes.
Ribautodelphax
Ribautodelphax is a genus of delphacid planthoppers in the family Delphacidae, distributed across Eurasia and North America. Species in this genus are known for producing species-specific acoustic signals used in mate recognition. European species are primarily monophagous or oligophagous on grasses, with host plant specialization contributing to species differentiation.
Scolytus mali
larger shothole borer, apple bark beetle, large fruit bark beetle
Scolytus mali is a bark beetle native to Europe that has become invasive in North America. It is commonly known as the larger shothole borer or apple bark beetle, reflecting its association with fruit trees. The species exhibits brief maturation feeding on living but weakened apple trees before aggregating for breeding in response to female-produced pheromones. Both sexes possess a well-developed gular-prosternal stridulatory apparatus and produce characteristic double chirps through head movement, with distinct acoustic differences between stress and attraction signals.
Scudderia
Scudder's Bush Katydids, bush katydids
Scudderia is a genus of bush katydids in the subfamily Phaneropterinae, established by Stål in 1873. Species in this genus are medium-sized insects, 30–40 mm in length, with a transcontinental distribution across North America. They are herbivorous, feeding on flowers as nymphs and woody deciduous plants as adults. Several species are economically significant as pests in citrus orchards and stone fruit production, particularly Scudderia furcata, the fork-tailed bush katydid. Males produce species-specific calling songs using file-and-scraper structures on their forewings, and species identification typically requires examination of the male supra-anal plate morphology.
Syntomeida epilais
Polka-Dot Wasp Moth, Oleander Moth, Uncle Sam Moth
Syntomeida epilais, commonly known as the polka-dot wasp moth or oleander moth, is a day-flying moth native to the Caribbean that has become established in the southeastern United States. The species is notable for its striking aposematic coloration—iridescent blue wings with white polka-dots and a red-tipped abdomen—that mimics the appearance of stinging wasps. Both adults and larvae sequester cardiac glycosides from their host plants, making them toxic to predators. The species possesses the most elaborate acoustic communication system known in the family Erebidae, with females producing ultrasonic signals to attract mates and defend against bats.
Tettigoniidae
katydids, bush crickets, long-horned grasshoppers
Tettigoniidae is a large family of orthopteran insects containing over 8,000 described species, commonly known as katydids in North America and bush crickets in the United Kingdom. The family is the only extant member of the superfamily Tettigonioidea within the suborder Ensifera. Members are characterized by extremely long, thread-like antennae that often exceed body length, distinguishing them from true grasshoppers. The family exhibits remarkable diversity in size, ranging from 5 mm to 130 mm, and occupies varied habitats from tropical rainforests to temperate grasslands across all continents except Antarctica.
Tibicininae
Tibicininae is a subfamily of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, containing at least 140 described species across 10 recognized tribes. The subfamily exhibits a broad geographic distribution spanning the Neotropics, Nearctic, and Palearctic regions. A 2005 taxonomic revision proposed renaming the subfamily Tettigadinae to avoid confusion, though this change was not universally adopted. Genera within Tibicininae include Chilecicada, Tibicina, Selymbria, Hemidictya, and others, with notable centers of endemism in Chile and the Neotropics.
Trigonidiidae
Sword-tailed Crickets, Ground Crickets, Wood Crickets, Trigs
Trigonidiidae is a family of small crickets within the superfamily Grylloidea, comprising two subfamilies: Nemobiinae (wood/ground crickets) and Trigonidiinae (sword-tail crickets). Members are typically small-bodied with diverse habitat associations ranging from woodland leaf-litter to sandy beaches and urban parks. The family exhibits complex acoustic communication, including calling songs, courtship songs, and substrate-borne vibrational signals in some species. Several genera, including Anaxipha and Cranistus, have been documented using drumming behavior during courtship. Many species remain poorly known, with ongoing taxonomic work describing new species primarily from China and other regions.
Trigonidiinae
trigs, sword-tail crickets, winged bush crickets
Trigonidiinae is a subfamily of true crickets (family Trigonidiidae) in the order Orthoptera, suborder Ensifera. Commonly known as trigs, sword-tail crickets, or winged bush crickets, this group contains small crickets with diverse morphological adaptations. The subfamily includes tribes Phylloscyrtini (Americas distribution) and Trigonidiini (worldwide except Antarctica), along with numerous genera distributed across tropical and temperate regions globally. Many species exhibit distinctive traits such as enlarged maxillary palps, sword-shaped ovipositors, and specialized acoustic communication including substrate-borne vibrational signals.
Velarifictorus micado
Japanese Burrowing Cricket
Velarifictorus micado, the Japanese burrowing cricket, is a true cricket native to East Asia that was introduced to the eastern United States in 1959. The species exhibits two distinct life cycle modes: egg diapause and nymphal diapause, which vary geographically across its native range. In North America, it has expanded from the eastern seaboard to the eastern Great Plains and northern United States, with recent observations suggesting it is more mobile and potentially more ecologically impactful than previously assumed.
Xestobium
death-watch beetles
Xestobium is a genus of wood-boring beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly known as death-watch beetles. The genus contains approximately 13 described species, with Xestobium rufovillosum being the most studied due to its economic significance as a pest of structural timbers in historic buildings. These beetles are renowned for the distinctive tapping sound produced by adults, which serves as a mating signal and has inspired their common name. The genus is primarily associated with decayed hardwoods, particularly oak, and has a prolonged life cycle spanning multiple years.
Xestobium rufovillosum
Deathwatch Beetle
Xestobium rufovillosum, commonly known as the deathwatch beetle, is a wood-boring beetle native to Europe that has been introduced to North America. The species is notorious for infesting structural timbers in historic buildings, particularly oak. Adults produce a distinctive rhythmic tapping sound by striking their heads against wood, which functions as a mating signal. The beetle requires wood that has been partially decayed by fungi and cannot attack sound, dry timber.
Zamagiria
Zamagiria is a genus of small pyralid moths in the subfamily Phycitinae. The genus remains unassigned to any tribe within Phycitinae due to uncertain phylogenetic relationships. It is predominantly Neotropical in distribution, with most species described from Central and South America. Females of at least one species (Z. dixolophella) exhibit calling behavior using acoustic signals to attract mates.
Zammara
Zammara is a genus of large, strikingly colored cicadas in the family Cicadidae. Members are distinguished by their bright blue-green coloration and tarsi divided into only two tarsomeres, a diagnostic trait separating them from related genera that possess three. The genus comprises approximately 15-16 species distributed primarily in equatorial Neotropical regions. These cicadas inhabit tropical forests and produce loud, distinctive acoustic calls.